Non-volatile memory cache performance improvement
First Claim
1. A method of operating a computer system having a non-volatile memory and a long-term storage medium, the method comprising:
- defining in the non-volatile memory, a mapped portion that is mapped to at least one logical sector address, the at least one logical sector address selected for use by an operating system to access said mapped portion in said non-volatile memory;
using said at least one logical sector address for storing in said mapped portion, a first boot data that is used for initializing said computer system;
utilizing said first boot data stored in said non-volatile memory to initialize said computer system; and
defining in the non-volatile memory, a cache portion that is not under direct control of the operating system and is different than the mapped portion which is under exclusive and direct control of the operating system.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In order to provide a more efficient persistent storage device, one or more long-term storage media are included along with a non-volatile memory. In one embodiment, one portion of the non-volatile memory is used as a write buffer and a read cache for writes and reads to the long-term storage media. Interfaces are provided for controlling the use of the non-volatile memory as a write buffer and a read cache. Additionally, a portion of the non-volatile memory is used to provide a direct mapping for specified sectors of the long-term storage media. Descriptive data regarding the persistent storage device is stored in another portion of the non-volatile memory.
115 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of operating a computer system having a non-volatile memory and a long-term storage medium, the method comprising:
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defining in the non-volatile memory, a mapped portion that is mapped to at least one logical sector address, the at least one logical sector address selected for use by an operating system to access said mapped portion in said non-volatile memory; using said at least one logical sector address for storing in said mapped portion, a first boot data that is used for initializing said computer system; utilizing said first boot data stored in said non-volatile memory to initialize said computer system; and defining in the non-volatile memory, a cache portion that is not under direct control of the operating system and is different than the mapped portion which is under exclusive and direct control of the operating system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of operating a computer system having a non-volatile memory and a long-term storage medium, comprising:
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storing operational data regarding the operations of said computer system in said non-volatile memory; using said operational data to analyze a failure in the long-term storage medium after an abnormal shutdown of said computer system; and defining in the non-volatile memory, a first portion that is not under direct control of an operating system of the computer system and is different than a second portion of the non-volatile memory which is under exclusive and direct control of the operating system. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of storing data in a computer system having a non-volatile memory and a long-term storage medium, the method comprising:
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storing a first version of data in said non-volatile memory; storing a second version of data in said non-volatile memory, wherein said second version is a copy of said first version; updating thereafter, said second version of data with at least one data change; and defining in the non-volatile memory, a first portion that is not under direct control of an operating system of the computer system and is different than a second portion of the non-volatile memory which is under exclusive and direct control of the operating system. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A computer system utilizing a non-volatile memory and a long-term storage medium, the system comprising:
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logic for defining in the non-volatile memory, a mapped portion that is mapped to at least one logical sector address, the at least one logical sector address selected for use by an operating system to access said mapped portion in said non-volatile memory; logic for using said at least one logical sector address for storing in said mapped portion, a first boot data that is used for initializing said computer system; logic for utilizing said first boot data stored in said non-volatile memory to initialize said computer system; and logic for defining in the non-volatile memory, a cache portion that is not under direct control of the operating system and is different than the mapped portion which is under exclusive and direct control of the operating system. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A computer system utilizing a non-volatile memory and a long-term storage medium, the system comprising:
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logic for storing operational data regarding the operations of said computer system in said non-volatile memory; logic for using said operational data to analyze a failure in the long-term storage medium after a failure of said computer system; and logic for defining in the non-volatile memory, a first portion that is not under direct control of an operating system of the computer system and is different than a second portion of the non-volatile memory which is under exclusive and direct control of the operating system. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer system utilizing a non-volatile memory and a long-term storage medium, comprising:
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logic for storing a first version of data in said non-volatile memory; logic for storing a second version of data in said non-volatile memory, wherein said second version is a copy of said first version; logic for updating thereafter, said second version of data with at least one data change; and logic for defining in the non-volatile memory, a first portion that is not under direct control of an operating system of the computer system and is different than a second portion of the non-volatile memory which is under exclusive and direct control of the operating system. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification